Air distribution unit



March 13, 1951 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi1.:d April 12, 1946 v V J a v\ F v\ H IN VEN TOR.

W r P- BY WI fw i-wrwa g ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1946 INVENTOR.

BY Mm,

March 13, 1951 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1946 INVENTOR.

h q/Ler M ffenned j M, WW W A TTORNE Y5 Patented Mar. 13, 1951 AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 12, 1946, Serial N0. 661,788

This invention relates to outlets for distributing air into compartments or rooms from overhead supply ducts.

One object is to provide a novel overhead distribution outlet particularly adapted for introducing substantial volumes of air into low-ceiling rooms such as railway cars, while distributing the air over a wide area without subjecting the room occupants to objectionable drafts.

Another object is to provide a novel air distribution unit adapted to be mounted adjacent a room ceiling and having a peripheral outlet for directing air laterally along a ceiling and a central outlet for directing a plurality of separated air streams downwardly along and outwardly from the outlet axis.

A further object is to impart a swirling action to the discharged air so as to efiect a looping together of the air streams from the central and peripheral outlets and thereby provide for quick dissipation of the energy of the moving air body.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the central air outlet and the swirl producing means.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showin the improved air distribution unit mounted in the ceiling of a streetcar.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the improved unit.

Fig. 3 is a diametrical sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of the swirl producing means.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The improved distribution unit shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration is intended to be mounted in the ceiling of a room or compartment lfl so as to provide a peripheral outlet ll immediately below the ceilin l2. The outer wall M of this outlet is defined by a tubular shell l3 projecting upwardly through a. hole in the ceiling and telescoping with a duct I5 to which the air to be distributed is delivered under pressure. Herein, the shell is secured by screws I! to a frame I8 disposed above the ceiling.

' The lower end of the shell flares outwardly to form the wall I4 and terminates in an upwardly turned flange l9 projecting through the ceiling. The inner wall 20 of .the peripheral outlet II is defined in this instance by a generally fiat deflector ring 2| which is disposed substantially horizontally and supported from the shell l3 by an- 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) nularly spaced straps 22. The outside diameter of the ring 2| is only slightly larger than the internal diameter of the shell so that the ring intercepts the outer portion of the advancing air body and diverts the same laterally and outwardly between the surfaces I4 and 20 defining the outlet ll. These surfaces are shaped so that the peripheral stream is directed downwardly at a small angle,

The internal diameter of the ring 2| which is substantially less than that of the shell I 3 defines a central opening 25 having means disposed therein for intercepting the downwardly moving air body and dividing it into a plurality of separate streams 2% which diverge relative to each other both radially and downwardly. Herein, the intercepting means comprises a plurality of grilles 21, preferably six, and of equal size, in the form of sectors, each of which is composed of a multiplicity of closely spaced parallel fiat fins 28 lying on chords of the circular central opening 25. Each fin is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the outlet axis with its upper surface inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the axis of the opening 25. The fins of each sector are connected by crossbar- 29 and the resulting grille core is enclosed by a frame 30 which is suitably secured to an upstanding flange 3| at the inner edge of the ring 2|. Preferably, the sectors stop short of the axis of the opening 25, and these ends are covered by a plate 32 of small diameter, this plate being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the grille sectors.

With the intercepting devices or grilles arranged as above described, it will be apparent that the body of air forced through the opening 25 is divided by the individual grille sectors into the separate streams 2B of corresponding cross-sectional area, each stream being diverted by the inclined grille fins outwardly and along the planes of the fins. Although the latter are disposed at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal, the angle of discharge of the streams 26 will vary from 30 to degrees, according to the velocity of the air forced through the sectors. By thus separating the air body into a comparatively large number of streams, that is, six in the present instance, rapid mixing with the room air is efiected, and a quick reduction in velocity is achieved with a resultant minimizing of drafts on the room occupants, and this even at very short distances from the ceiling, asin the case of the streetcar arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1. This reduction in velocityis due to the large area of the exposed peripheral surfaces of the separated air streams 3 and the increase of this area as the streams progress downwardly.

It has been found that an advantageous looping together of the central streams 26 with the peripheral air stream 9 may be effected by imparting a swirling effect to the moving air body before its discharge through the grilles 2?;- In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this is accomplished by a rotary fan having a series of angu larly spaced blades 35 projecting radially from the shaft 36 of a motor 31, the fan being di'spo'sed" within the air supply duct iii a short distance above the central opening 25; The bladesa're i-n clined relative to their plane of rotation and, in the form shown in Fig. 1, are used to perform the additional function of delivering aif'un'der' pres sure to both outlets of the unit. This air is -dra wn inwardly through side openings 38 in a housing 39 thatencloses the motor and the upper end of theduct leading tothe distribution'unit: By' mi: pa rting a' swirling motion to the air before its discharge froni"theoutlet, it has been found that the central" streams 28 tend to loop outwardly and unite with the peripheral stream e starting almostimiriediatelyadjacent the point of discharge from the outlet and'continuing progressivelyuntil the propellingenergy has been substantially dissipated. This action is illustrated by the arrows in Fig." 1f Dissipatioirof the'energy is accelerated as'pointedout' aboveby virtue'of the large sur faceareas"oitheindividual streams'ifi. As a re-' suit, the incoming'air is dispersed so rapidlyand di'sti lb'utedbver" such a substantial portion of the ro'o'mthat drafts; which would be obj ectionable to the room 'occupants', are" avoided at very short distances, orr'th'e'oi'der of a few feet from the point of"dfsclrarge*into the room. The combined outlet is thus well'suited' for use in streetcarsand' the like-where; as"illustrated in Fig. 1, it is desirable to deliver" a" majority of the inco'mingair to theseatoccupants while avoiding obj ection'able' draftsb'nthese'occupants as well' as on persons standirigiidthe aisle" between the rows of seats. In the unitdes'cribed' above, the air forced through timer the grille sectors 2'? will be deliveredtothe aisle area, but directed longitudinally" thereofi Tiferemaining. airjis divided 'into' two pairs" of streams 25 and directed laterally, as shown" by the arrows.

The" desii-ableswirling act-ion above described may'also' be obtained without the necessity of rotating. the blades 35.

l and 5, the blades, inclined and positioned irr'the same way' as above described, are mounted stationarily, for example, by providing lugs ig on'theblade tipsand interfitting these lugs with eyes il punched'out of the shell l3. In this mod iflcation, the'swirling action is derived from themotion of the air body itself, the resultingdistri butionof the" air into the room being essentially thesame'as in the'form first described.

I claim as my'invention:

1'; A'unitfor distributing air having, in combination} a shell flared at one endand having an air inlet at the other end, a deflector ring adjacent andbeyon'dthe' flared end of said shell and coacting. therewith to'form a'peripheral outletbetween the ring andfthe shell for discharging part of the air'delivere'dj through said shell outwardly, the innefperiphery of" said ring defining a central oiitieitalihed axially with said'shell, a plurality of grille -secztors" arranged in said central outlet and In the form shown in each 'comprisingamultiplicity of closely spaced 4 axis to direct the air streams defined by said grille sectors along and outwardly from said axis, and a plurality of angularly spaced fan blades positioned in said shell and operable to impart a swirling action to the body of air flowing therethrough; p ,v s 1 2; A unit'for distributing air having, in combination, a shell flared at one end and having an air inlet at the other end, a deflector ring adjacent and beyond the flared end of said shell and coacting therewith to form a peripheral outlet between the ring and the shell for discharging part of the air deliveredthrough said shell outwardly, the-inner p'eripheryof said ring defining a central outlet alined. axiallywith said shell, at least three grille sectors arranged in the outermost axial plane of said central outlet and each comprising a series of closely spaced chordal fins adapted to directthe air streams defined by said grille sectors aiori'gaiid out ardly from said axi's',an'd a iurality' of angul'aiiy s'pac'e'd fan bladespositi'oned in said shell and operable to impart a' swirling" action to" the body (if air flowing therethrough.

3. Annit for distributing air having, in combination, a shell flared'a't one end and having an air inlet at the other end, a deflector ring adj'a'ceii't aiidbeydnd'fthe flared end of said shell and meeting therewith to format peripher'al'outl et'b et'tveen the ring and the shell for discharging part of the aindelivered through said'shell outwardly', the inner periphery of said ring defining a central outlet alined axially with said shell, andat' least three grille sectni-s arrangd in said" c'en'trafoutlet and" each comprising-a series of closely spaced chordal fins inclinedrela'tive to theoutlet axis tofdi'r'ect the air streams defined by said grille 'sect'ors'along andoutwardlynom said axisi g I g g a" A unit for distribut'ing'air having, in combina'tio'm shell flared at one end nd having aiiair in'letat the other end, a deflector ring adjacentand'beyond the flared'end' of'said shell and coacting therewith to form a peripheral outlet between thering and the'she'll fol-discharging parser the air delivered through said shell outwardly, the inner peripheryof said ring. defining a central outlet alined axially with said shelLand six grille sectors? arranged in said, central outlet; and each comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced substantially flat fins extending along chords of the sectors and inclined relative to the outlet axis to directthe'ai'r streams defined by saidgrill'e seminars-rig and outwardly from said axis.

5. A unit for distributing air manila; iii-Zoombinatiom a shell flared at one, endaiid aving anair inlet at the other end, a, deflector ring adjacent andbeyohd the flared end of'sai'dshefl and coactingtherewith to form a peripheral out} let'betwee'h theringand the shell for discharging part of the air delivered through saidlshelhout wardly', the inner periphery offsaid ring deflninga central outlet alined axially with said shell, an'd'a' plurality of grille sectors arran g ed in sai'd cent'raloutlet and each comprisinga multiplicity of'clo'sely spaced substantially flat-'ex tending} along chords of the sectors and inclined lrelative to the outletiaxis to direct the air streams defined bysaidgrille sectors along and outwardly from said'a'xisl I o e; Aunit' for distributing air havingf inborn-:- biniat af'shell'fl'ared at o'n'eend and having it all nlet'j'at 't e"other endjla de'flector ring adj (5811i? and byb'tid' thefii'ed elld 0f said shell coacting therewith to form a peripheral outlet 5 I between the ring and the shell for discharging REFERENCES CITED part of the air delivered through said shell out- The following references are of record in the wardly, the inner periphery of said ring defining file f this patent; a central outlet alined axially with said shell, and UNITED STATES PATENTS a plurality of grille sectors arranged in said cen- 6 tral outlet and each comprising a multiplicity of Number Name Date fins extending along chords of the sectors and 2 5 g g inclined relative to the outlet aXis to direct the 2332762 5 3 1 g g Z s air streams defined by said grille sectors along w Canten 1944 a outwardly from Sald axls' 2,365,867 Dauphinee Dec. 26 1944 2,403,291 Kurth July 2, 1946 WALTER KENNEDY 2,408,691 Shaw t, 1, 1945 

